Neutron-Capture Element Abundances and Cosmochronometry

C. Sneden

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arXiv · astro-ph/0106366

Neutron-Capture Element Abundances and Cosmochronometry

C. Sneden

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Abstract

Abundance ratios of radioactive to stable neutron-capture elements in very metal-poor stars may be used to estimate the age of our Galaxy. But extracting accurate ages from these data requires continuing work on many fronts: a) identification of more low metallicity stars with neutron-capture element excesses; b) acquisition of the best high resolution stellar spectra; c) improvement in neutron-capture element transition probabilities; d) calculation of more realistic nuclear models for, and interactions among the heaviest elements; and e) and more self-consistent production predictions for these elements in supernovae. This review discusses several of these areas and makes suggestions about how to improve the accuracy of Galactic cosmochronometry.

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C. Sneden. 2001-06-20. Neutron-Capture Element Abundances and Cosmochronometry. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0106366

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